Deepwater Horizon liability act wins Senate committee approval

The Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday approved legislation that would allow survivors of the 11 men killed in the Deepwater Horizon explosion to claim more damages from BP, Transocean, Halliburton and other companies working on the rig.

When the Deepwater Horizon exploded on April 20, 2010, there were 126 workers aboard the rig, which was drilling in 5,000 feet of water some 41 miles off the coast of Louisiana.

Present law limits negligence damages in ocean-based deaths to compensation for funeral expenses and lost wages, but damages in a comparable land-based claim could include less tangible items such as loss of care, comfort, companionship and for pain and suffering.

The legislation approved by the Senate panel would eliminate that disparity and allow families of the Deepwater Horizon victims to collect damages on a par with similar claims in land-based negligence cases.

“Maritime workers and their loved ones deserve to have the peace of mind that they will be treated fairly when tragedy strikes,” said Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., who introduced the bill.

The bill must still be voted on by the full Senate.

Similar legislation passed the House last year but stalled in the Senate

Transocean did not return a request for comment and a spokesperson for BP said the company would not comment on the “pending legislation.”